Seniors – the Internet Scams Soft Targets

The scenario

We are witnessing increasingly aggressive email scams targeting
all kinds of Internet users who utilise security cameras. For example, it was
recently reported that 1,600 scam emails of this type were intercepted between 2
and 3 January this year.

Being a one of still not sufficiently secured the Internet
of Thing devices, these indoor or outdoor cameras are easy targets for
cybercriminals. Google’s Nest Cam Indoor and Amazon rain cameras are,
reportedly, usual targets but other brands are not imine to hacking.

Although the scammers do not have all the personal
information they claim to have, many people still fall victims. Cybercriminals
usually threaten people to expose their sensitive photos or videos unless they
pay a ransom.

This is what a typical scam email looks like:

“We have nude videos of you, which we recorded with your
device camera. As proof that we have the compromising videos, you can log in using
the following details: email ****@nudemail.com
and password ******. Follow the
instructions.”

No matter if the cameras we use are hackable or not,
cybercriminals use these emails to receive money from uninformed or gullible people.
Even if people know that they have not done anything wrong, they still fall preys.

The victims

The above cyber incidents can happen to any of us but the
senior citizens are particularly prone to this kind of crime. The FBI’s 2018 Internet Crime Report shows that people 60
and older submitted more than 62,000 fraud complaints in that year, stating losses
of nearly USD 650 million.

Hence our intentions to share with our readership the
reasons senior citizens are the targets as well as what are the common Internet
scams are and how to prevent them.

The research of our business partner Panda Security suggests
that the senior citizens are soft targets as they usually have only very basic
computer skills. Furthermore, by the time seniors retire, many of them have
done all their savings and are lucrative targets. On the other hand, those who have
not saved enough are looking to make some fast money – so they become viable
targets. It also appears that senior citizens are more trusting.

Some senior scams that happen either online or over the
phone include the persuasion into purchasing unnecessary products or services, charging
fraudulent or unnecessary services, forcing seniors to give their personally
identifying information or financial information, promoting false offers, or get-rich-quick
pyramid schemes.

Internet scams targeting seniors

While some online scams are generic and do not target a
specific age bracket, others specifically target seniors. The Panda Security points
out the following most common scams involving senior citizens:

Online investment scams

As many seniors are planning for retirement or need help while
managing their savings, the online investment scams target these individuals
promising a good return on their investment. These either turn out to be Ponzi
schemes or once the money is ‘wired’, they never see it again.

Online dating scams

The Internet can be a great place for seniors to find love.
However, cheaters create fake profiles and use them to get close to someone in
order to scam them out of money. Unfortunately, many seniors (and the middle age
people) fall victim to this scam because they are looking for companionship and
can be too trusting.

Lottery scam

Seniors, like many other people, are prone to falling for
scams that tell them they won the lottery. The scammers will then ask for personal
and banking information to ‘wire’ the winnings to them. That is how their
savings get stolen.

Counterfeit prescription drug scam

People go online to research their prescription drugs and
find the best price. Unfortunately, they run into scammers who offer them drugs
at a cheap price. Either these prescription drugs are not authentic or they
never arrive.

Tech support scams

In 2018, these scams cost people USD 55 million. The FTC reportedthat older adults were five times more
likely to report losing money on tech support scams. These scams start out with
a pop-up warning of a computer issue, providing a phone number to call. A fake
Microsoft or Apple employee answers the phone and convinces people to give them
access to the computer so they can solve the issue. This usually ends up with accessing
the victim’s bank account or request for payment for the said repairs.

Anti-ageing product scams

The anti-ageing product scams, which promising people they
will look younger, are coming in a few forms. It could be an ad for a low-cost
or even free (plus tax) anti-ageing products for sale. Once people enter their
banking information to purchase the product, these scammers will just take their
money.

Funeral and cemetery scams

Funeral and cemetery scams can target seniors both in-person
and online. This could be in the form of a misleading funeral package that
offers a cheaper price but ends up costing in additional service fees.

Be sure the website is secure: If entering any personal information onto a website, be sure it is a secure site, by checking the URL and ensuring it sayshttps.

Use secure payment: If purchasing something online, be sure the website has a secure payment method. It is also best practice to use a credit card as it is easier to report fraud and reverse the charges.

Log out of a shared computer: When using a library computer or one that is shared by the living community, be sure to log out of the accounts when done. If you have downloaded any personal documents, delete them off the desktop before logging out.

Secure passwords: Be sure to create secure passwords for all accounts used. These passwords should be different for each account. If you have trouble remembering them, consider getting a password manager that can store all your complex passwords in one place.

Report the scam: Lastly, it is important that you report any scam to the authorities. Do not be embarrassed or afraid to report the scam that you were involved in. If you fell for it, it is likely others did too. By speaking up, you can prevent others from falling victim.

The last advice, actually brings a question of whether our senior
citizens are legally sufficiently protected?

Is it now time to introduce particular regulations in South Africa?

On 15 June 2019, the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day took
place, highlighting how older populations are vulnerable to various forms of
fraud, also seeking to promote education and strategies to prevent the senior
citizens from being victims of deception.

In the United States, for example, the ‘Elder Abuse Prevention
and Prosecution Act’ was enacted in 2017 with the purpose to provide a platform
for the Department of Justice “to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial
fraud and scams that target the US seniors” – according to an FBI press release.

Minding increased the Internet-related incident numbers
involving senior South Africans, particularly those related to the online ‘dating
scams’, we believe that now is the right time to explicitly regulate this
matter. Hence, we invite cyber law experts to take the matter in their skilful
hands and help the government in protecting our senior citizens from falling victims
to the online scams.